I am too new to answer the question, but will be interested in the answer. I put pollen patties in with my packages, no comb what so ever and syrup. I was expecting them to really dig into it, but they have taken some, but not much, Now we have a lot of flowering trees and plants and I am thinking its time to remove the patties.

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Cruachan!

Highlander

For as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule. It is not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom — for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.From The Declaration of Arbroath 1320.

I put patties on this morning. A couple hours later I had to go back into the hive for something and quite a few bees were returning with pollen. I'll check in a couple days and if they're not messing with them, I'm pulling them off. Wish I put 1/2 a patty on each hive instead of a full one.

pollen paties are a great tool for me when checking condition and quality of hives inthe fall -i give them all a patty and if the bees dont eat or are slow to take the pattythose are the ones i check-and they are the ones that are queenlees or have pms from varoait saves alot of time when there is many hives to check-its a great indicator -if they dont eat the sub they wont make it through winter--- :) RDY-B